Champions Trophy

Australia win 2009 Champions Trophy

Shane Watson scored his second century in as many matches to guide Australia to the six-wicket win over New Zealand that saw them retain their ICC Champions Trophy crown in a low-scoring final to the 2009 tournament at Centurion.

Australia recovered from six for two to finish on 206 for four, Watson unbeaten on 105 after New Zealand could only reach 200 for nine from their 50 overs.

Despite the modest target, New Zealand were not about to stand aside and just let Australia coast home and a well-disciplined start from Shane Bond and Kyle Mills had Australia in trouble when Tim Paine (1) edged Bond to Ross Taylor at slip and Ricky Ponting was trapped in front by Mills for just one.

Mills bowled an incisive spell, returning figures of three for 27 which lifted him above the great Sir Richard Hadlee in New Zealand’s ODI wickets list but his fellow bowlers weren’t quite able to match his efforts.

Watson and Cameron White (62) put on a priceless stand of 128 for the third wicket, quite content and sometimes appearing just about able to see off the new ball onslaught and White was lucky when Brendon McCullum missed a skied pull behind the stumps with the Victorian on just 15.

That seemed to lift the Australians and blunt the New Zealanders and it was something of a surprise when Mills had White bowled off an inside edge and then induced Michael Hussey (11) to drive aerially to Jeetan Patel.

Australia have now become the only team to win the Champions Trophy crown twice, since they last won it in 2006.

Tags: Australia, Champions Trophy 2009, new zealand